Africa: Conflict Prevention

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding the Government has provided for the training of African peacekeepers since 2005; how many new peacekeepers have been trained as a result; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: Since 2004-05 the UK Government have allocated £80 million to Peace Support Operation (PSO) Projects in Africa. This has supported the training of approximately 12,000 African peacekeepers.

Developing Countries: Overseas Aid

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the Independent Evaluation Group report on improving effectiveness and outcomes for the poor in health, nutrition and population; and what steps his Department plans to take in response to the report.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) supports the main findings of the Independent Evaluation which provide the World Bank with clear directives on how it can improve the quality of its work in health, nutrition and population.
	The World Bank has committed to refocus its capacity and support behind health system strengthening, especially in Africa. This is reflected in its health, nutrition and population strategy. DFID will continue to press for full and accelerated implementation of this strategy and has agreed to fund regional posts in health systems strengthening under the International Health Partnership.

Kenya: Overseas Aid

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much financial aid the Government has provided to support projects in Kenya in each of the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: Full details of UK aid expenditure by country are contained in the Department for International Development's (DFID) publication 'Statistics on International Development'. This publication is available from the Library and online at:
	www.dfid.gov.uk
	Relevant figures are reproduced in the following table.
	
		
			  UK bilateral gross public expenditure (GPEX) and UK imputed multilateral share to Kenya, 2003-04 to 2007-08 
			  £000 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Bilateral GPEX 28,647 37,824 65,486 67,054 52,135 
			 UK imputed multilateral share 11,601 27,179 13,033 24,032 34,433

Churches: Water Charges

Caroline Spelman: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners how many churches in each diocese have reported an increase in their water bills as a result of the new surface water charges.

Stuart Bell: Water charges are the responsibility of the Parochial Church Council of the particular church and such data is not held centrally.
	However, as churches were previously exempt from water rates, in areas where surface water and highways charges have begun to be phased in, all those with connections to the public drains face increases. In many cases these will be substantial, with annual increases ranging from a few hundred pounds for a small church to several thousand pounds for large churches. If applied nationally, this would result in estimated charges of £5 million for surface water drainage and £10 million for highways drainage.

Nature Conservation: Crime

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many convictions for offences related to birds were made under Part 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in each of the last five years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The number of defendants found guilty at all courts for bird-related offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, in England and Wales, 2003 to 2007 (latest available) are shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2003 33 
			 2004 64 
			 2005 38 
			 2006 103 
			 2007 28 
			  Source: Evidence and Analysis Unit—Office for Criminal Justice Reform, Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom bird-related offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.
	Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.

Rodents

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will assess the effectiveness of The National Protocol for Cooperation on Rodent Control 2000 in meeting its objectives.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA has no plans to review the effectiveness of the National Protocol for Cooperation on Rodent Control 2000. The protocol provides a mechanism for improved communication and co-ordination between local authorities and sewerage undertakers on the control of rats in sewers.

Employment

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each age group have been placed in employment by Jobcentre Plus in the last six months.

Jim Knight: holding answer 8 June 2009
	The available information is in the following table:
	
		
			  Job seekers a llowance—off flows into work for the last six months—Great Britain 
			
			  Aged:  November 2008  December 2008  January 2009  February 2009  March 2009  April 2009 
			 under 17 15 25 10 25 30 40 
			 17 185 145 60 135 140 165 
			 18 4,775 3,585 1,480 2,825 2,880 3,315 
			 19 4,865 3,765 1,725 3,550 3,830 4,295 
			 20-24 23,295 17,825 8,865 19,580 19,760 21,535 
			 25-29 14,310 10,970 6,225 15,220 14,790 15,815 
			 30-34 9,900 7,390 4,560 11,165 10,615 10,975 
			 35-39 9,385 7,350 4,675 10,870 10,375 10,845 
			 40-44 9,395 7,285 4,875 11,235 10,675 11,245 
			 45-49 9,015 6,915 4,575 10,435 9,820 10,425 
			 50-54 7,485 5,685 3,755 8,370 8,065 8,390 
			 55-59 5,675 4,450 3,035 6,365 5,890 6,340 
			 60 and over 1,155 970 635 1,490 1,450 1,530 
			 Column total 99,440 76,380 44,470 101,255 98,310 104,920 
			  Notes: 1. The number of off-flows moving into employment include claimants who increased their employment hours beyond 16 per week. 2. This information is published on the Nomis website at: www.nomisweb.co.uk 3. The percentage of people leaving with an unknown destination recorded has increased over the last 10 years. This is because the completion levels of the JSA40 (forms filled in by people leaving JSA) have decreased over this period. This should be taken into account when interpreting these statistics, as many of these 'unknown' leavers will have moved into employment or other benefits. The data is not seasonally adjusted.  Source:  100 per cent. count of claimants of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus Computer Systems.

New Deal Schemes

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements her Department has made to compensate unsuccessful bidders for Flexible New Deal Phase 1 contracts for the costs of the preparations for delivery of the contract from October 2009 they have incurred in advance of the successful bidders being notified; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 8 June 2009
	Consistent with Office of Government Commerce guidelines, the Department has made it quite clear in the Flexible New Deal Invitation to Tender documentation that it does not compensate either successful or unsuccessful bidders for any costs incurred with the preparation or submission of bids.

Lord Davies of Abersoch

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of Lord Davies of Abersoch's time devoted to ministerial duties is spent on matters relating to his Department.

Chris Bryant: Lord Davies of Abersoch is the Minister for Trade, Investment and Business. He is a Minister for both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Lord Davies is responsible for: UK Trade and Investment (reporting jointly to my noble Friend the Business Secretary and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary); and advising the Secretary of State and the Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills (Pat McFadden) on overall business policy; working on specific business issues alongside the Minister for Business and Regulatory Reform (Ian Lucas); the work of the Exports Credits Guarantee Department; Public Service Reform; trade policy; and Europe.
	Lord Davies meets regularly with the Foreign Secretary, the ministerial team and the FCO Permanent Under-Secretary, as well as travelling extensively around the overseas network. With such a wide remit it is impossible to apportion the time the Minister spends attending to the work of one department or another; this is dictated by the priorities of the business of any given day.

Bus Services: Concessions

Bob Neill: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 28 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 1221-22W, on bus services: concessions, if he will place in the Library a copy of each written representation from local authorities expressing concern.

Sadiq Khan: I am not in a position to make correspondence from local authorities publicly available without seeking approval from them first. The authorities that have contacted the Department regarding concessionary travel funding are listed as follows. The hon. Member may wish to contact them directly to obtain a copy of their representation.
	Blackpool
	Bournemouth
	Burnley
	Cambridge
	Chesterfield
	Chichester
	Derby
	Eastbourne
	Erewash
	Exeter
	Fareham
	Fylde
	Harrogate
	Hastings
	Isle of Wight
	Lancashire county council
	Norwich
	Nottingham
	Oxford
	Peterborough
	Plymouth
	Scarborough
	Stafford
	Swindon
	Torbay
	Weymouth
	Worcester
	Worthing
	York

c2c

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2009,  Official Report, column 294W, on c2c, if he will  (a) agree and  (b) publish a timetable for re-letting the c2c franchise.

Chris Mole: The current London, Tilbury and Southend Franchise, operated by C2C, ends in May 2011. The Department for Transport's usual franchise replacement process takes between 18 and 24 months to complete. Initial work on the franchise specification will begin later this year and a timetable published when appropriate.

Fisheries

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2009,  Official Report, column 706W, on fisheries; what recent guidance his Department has issued regarding stability criteria for small fishing vessels following the research commissioned by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is analysing the results of the research that it commissioned on stability criteria for small fishing vessels, and considering its practical applicability to fishing vessel operators.
	Following that the MCA will give consideration to the issue of guidance in due course.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he expects continuous insurance enforcement to be introduced across all insured vehicles.

Paul Clark: Delivery of the Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) scheme is planned to commence in 2010-11 starting with an initial publicity campaign to raise public awareness.

Public Transport: Tickets

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Crosby of 3 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1135-6W, on public transport, what meetings his Department has had on the development of the consultation on an integrated ticketing strategy in England since the date of that Answer.

Sadiq Khan: The Department for Transport has met a number of key stakeholders since 3 February 2009. These include the devolved Administrations, local transport authorities, the Local Government Association, the Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers, independent transport consultants, ticket machine and smart ticketing manufacturers, credit card and payment companies, other Government Departments and a delegation from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Transport and Tourism. The Department has also presented the emerging findings of the strategy work at meetings of the Transport Card Forum and the Transport Group.

Public Transport: Tickets

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Crosby of 3 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1135-6W, on public transport, when he expects the consultation paper on an integrated ticketing strategy for England to be published.

Sadiq Khan: The consultation paper will be published shortly, subject to gaining the necessary approvals for such a cross-cutting policy area.

Civil Nuclear Constabulary: Pay

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the salary structure of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary against relevant public sector comparators.

Phil Woolas: The Civil Nuclear Constabulary falls under the responsibilities of my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

Crime: Arrests

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been arrested for  (a) immigration,  (b) passport,  (c) drug and  (d) knife crime offences in the last 12 months.

Alan Campbell: The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person, sexual offences, drug offences and robbery. Data on arrests for immigration, passport and knife crime offences are not available as it is not possible to identify specific offences from within the offence groups.
	In 2007-08 (latest available) there were 104,532 persons arrested for drug offences in England and Wales.
	The records held by the UK Border Agency for immigration offenders arrested nationally for immigration related offences, including passport and documentation offences, shows that 10,750 offenders were arrested in 2007-08. These UK Border Agency figures do not constitute part of National Statistics as they are based on internal management information. The information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols, should be treated as provisional and is subject to change.
	The UK Border Agency adopts an intelligence and target led approach to operations and our top priority has been to protect the public and remove from the UK the most harmful people first. Based on UK Border Agency management information 5,395 foreign national prisoners were removed in 2008—exceeding our target of 5,000.

Detention Centres

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times he has visited immigration removal centres in the last 12 months.

Phil Woolas: My right hon. Friend the former Home Secretary (Jacqui Smith) visited one immigration removal centre (IRC) in the past 12 months—she opened Brook House IRC on 18 March 2009.

Entry Clearances: Sports Competitors

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications were received for sports visas in each of the last five years; and what percentage of each were approved in each such year.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 1 June 2009
	The data is not available as visas for sportspersons were not identified separately for the period in question.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases relating to  (a) drugs,  (b) firearms and  (c) counterfeit currency have been referred to the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) by HM Revenue and Customs; and how many such cases have been investigated by SOCA.

Alan Johnson: Under arrangements agreed between HM Revenue and Customs and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), HM Revenue and Customs notify SOCA of seizures made at ports that meet specific criteria. SOCA undertakes systematic checks on every notification, but investigates only where the size of the seizure, significance of the criminals involved and operational opportunities presented are assessed as appropriate for further action, in line with the priorities set in the UK Organised Crime Control Strategy.
	In the period 1 September 2007 to 30 April 2009, within the framework:
	 (a) SOCA received 161 notifications relating to drugs and adopted 29 of these for criminal investigation.
	 (b) SOCA received three notifications relating to firearms, none of which was adopted for criminal investigation by SOCA.
	 (c) SOCA received one notification relating to counterfeit currency which was not adopted for criminal investigation by SOCA.
	The notifications that are not adopted for criminal investigation were debriefed by SOCA and, wherever appropriate, progressed by another law enforcement agency.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Serious and Organised Crime Agency's proceeds of crime targets were in respect of  (a) cash seizure,  (b) cash forfeiture,  (c) restraint orders,  (d) confiscation orders and  (e) civil recovery in 2008-09.

Alan Johnson: Targets for 2008-09 were published in the Serious Organised Crime Agency's Annual Plan for that year as follows:
	 (a) There was no target for cash seizure
	 (b) £6 million cash forfeiture
	 (c) There was no external target as restraint is used to prevent the dissipation of assets during investigation. However, SOCA set an internal target of £62.5 million for restraint orders.
	 (d) £46 million confiscation—this figure was made up of £42million of confiscation orders obtained by SOCA and £4 million of confiscation orders enforced by SOCA on confiscation cases inherited from the Assets Recovery Agency.
	 (e) There was no SOCA civil recovery and tax target, but an overall HMG target of £16 million.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were  (a) arrested on suspicion and  (b) convicted of offences relating to organised immigration crime as a result of operations by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09.

Alan Johnson: In 2007-08, there were 129 arrests and 30 convictions as a result of operations where organised immigration crime was the main focus. In 2008-09 there were 140 arrests and 15 convictions as a result of operations where organised immigration crime was the main focus.
	In addition to the numbers arrested and convicted as a result of investigations into organised immigration crime, others were dealt with "administratively" under immigration powers, for example by deportation or exclusion.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the Serious and Organised Crime Agency Annual Report 2008-09, how many of the 5,000 criminals on record with the Serious and Organised Crime Agency as a result of its operational activity have been  (a) prosecuted and  (b) convicted of offences as a result of the Agency's activity.

Alan Johnson: The figure of 5,000 persons of interest includes individuals who are outside UK jurisdiction or are already in prison. During SOCA's first three years of operation, its work led to the prosecution of 920 and the conviction of 863 individuals.

Serious Organised Crime Agency: Manpower

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many liaison officers are employed by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency; and what their average annual salary is.

Alan Campbell: As of 1 June 2009, the Serious Organised Crime Agency had 104 liaison officers based overseas. Liaison officer grades and salaries vary according to the post and responsibilities, but the majority of liaison officers are on a salary in the range of £40,586 to £54,050.

Serious Organised Crime Agency: Marketing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on marketing and advertising by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency in each of the last three years.

Alan Johnson: The only expenditure SOCA has incurred on advertising and marketing has been on recruiting for staff, on which the following was spent:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2006-07 83,000 
			 2007-08 141,000 
			 2008-09 340,000

UK Border Agency: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK Border Agency plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 29 April 2009 on a constituent, reference B14712/9.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 8 June 2009
	The UK Border Agency wrote to the hon. Member on 21 May 2009.

Eco-Towns

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account the regional spatial strategy planning process will take of eco-town sites.

Ian Austin: The draft Planning Policy Statement (PPS)—Eco-towns—consultation published in November 2008 sets out that Eco towns are one of a range of options regions should consider when determining the overall level and distribution of housing in future RSS reviews. The draft PPS adds that where an eco-town location has already been identified in the Eco-Towns Programme or in a development plan document or where a planning applications for an eco-town has been approved, regions should consider the location or the longer-term growth options for the eco-town.
	The consultation period for the draft PPS concluded on 30 April and Government are currently considering the responses to the consultation.

Empty Property: Merseyside

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 11 May 2009,  Official Report, columns 512-14W, what recent steps he has taken to reduce the number of long-term empty dwellings in Merseyside.

Ian Austin: We work closely with the independent Empty Homes Agency to encourage local authorities to tackle empty homes in their areas. Through the Housing Act 2004, we have introduced new powers to allow local authorities to take over the management of private sector empty homes (Empty Dwelling Management Orders) where a voluntary approach is not successful. We are supporting the Empty Homes Agency's new guidance on EDMOs, which was launched on 10 March. The guidance is internet based and interactive and takes local authorities through the EDMO process step by step. My right hon. Friend the Member for Derby, South (Margaret Beckett) provided a foreword for the guidance.
	The Department hosted an Empty Homes seminar for a number of local authorities on 23 April to provide an opportunity to discuss the obstacles facing authorities in dealing with empty homes, share examples of best practice, and encourage them to take action to tackle empty homes in their area.

Planning Permission

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 5 May 2009,  Official Report, column 141W, on planning permission, by how much grant allocation will be reduced if a local planning authority does not complete its priority development plan documents in accordance with the agreed time scale  (a) in 2008-09 and  (b) under the plans for the new Housing and Planning Delivery Grant system.

Ian Austin: The mechanism for Housing and Planning Delivery Grant HPDG was set out in the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant—Allocation Mechanism and Summary of Consultation Responses which was published in July 2007. The mechanism for determining HPDG for 2008-09 is set out in that document which can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/doc/hpdgresponse
	Where a local authority's development plan documents are not delivered in accordance with agreed timetable the amount of grant is reduced as set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage of grant paid 
			  Development plan document (DPD) stage  On time  >35 and <190 days late  >189 and <365 days late 
			 Submission 40 25 0 
			 Adoption 60 35 20 
			 Total award for DPDs 100 60 20 
		
	
	We are currently consulting on proposed changes to the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant (HPDG) Consultation on allocation mechanism for year 2 and year 3 which was published on 12 May 2009. The closing date for responses is 23 June 2009. The consultation document does not propose any changes to the mechanism for the delivery of development plan documents.

Railways: Trees

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward legislative proposals to provide for  (a) the application of preservation orders to trees situated alongside railway embankments and  (b) local authorities to intervene in respect of Network Rail proposals to remove such trees.

Ian Austin: Local planning authorities can already make preservation orders to protect trees on Network Rail property, including railway embankments. Local planning authorities can also intervene on proposals by Network Rail to undertake works on such trees. Network Rail, as a statutory undertaker, has an exemption within the legislation to undertake works to protected trees which is necessary for public safety. Otherwise they must apply to the local planning authority for consent to undertake work to their protected trees, as any other person or organisation would.

Regional Planning and Development

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to publish the final regional spatial strategy for the South West before the end of June 2009.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: We intended to issue the final Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West at the end of June. However, on 20 May, the High Court issued a judgment that the previously issued Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England had failed to meet certain requirements of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive, in respect of three towns. My Department and the Government Office for the South West are considering the implications for the Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West, but cannot reach a clear view until the written judgment is issued by the Court. It is not possible to set a new timetable, until the implications of the judgment have been clarified, and what action is required, if any.

Rented Housing: Disabled

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to  (a) promote and  (b) enforce minimum standards of facilities for tenants with severe disabilities in housing provided by not-for-profit housing associations;
	(2)  if he will take steps to improve regulation of the standards for housing provided by not-for-profit housing associations for people with severe disabilities;
	(3)  if he will take steps to strengthen the regulation of charges levied on local authorities by not-for-profit housing associations who provide accommodation and support for tenants with severe disabilities.

Ian Austin: The Tenant Services Authority (TSA) is currently in the process of developing its standards framework. The aim is to improve the standard of service for all tenants, and the standards currently being developed will be a key method of achieving this. Where landlords do not meet these standards, the TSA will use the powers bestowed on them through the 2008 Housing and Regeneration Act to ensure this is addressed, and the quality of service improved.
	The Care Quality Commission is responsible for the regulation of accommodation for people who require nursing or special care. From 2010 a new registration system will ensure that health and adult social care providers must be registered with the CQC to show they meet a wide range of essential, common quality standards.
	The CQC have a wide range of enforcement powers, such as fines and public warnings, and they have flexibility about how and when to use them.
	Further information on the Commission including their enforcement powers can be found on their website at:
	http://www.cqc.org.uk/aboutcqc/whatwedo/registrationandenforcement.cfm
	Since there are no apparent circumstances where a not for profit housing association would levy charges upon a local authority, no regulation is currently being envisaged in this area.

Surrey Police: Council Tax

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many meetings between Ministers and officials from his Department and  (a) Surrey Police and  (b) Surrey Police Authority took place between July 2008 and May 2009; on what date each such meeting took place; who attended each meeting; and what topics were discussed at each meeting.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: There was one meeting with Surrey police authority on 21 April 2009 to allow the authority to present its challenge to its designation for capping face to face with Ministers. Ministers at the meeting were John Healey (the then Local Government Minister), Vernon Coaker (the then Police Minister) and their officials. Those attending on behalf of Surrey police authority were Peter Williams (chairman of the authority), Dr. Sue Martin (chief executive), Ian Perkin (treasurer) and Mark Rowley (chief constable).

Surrey Police: Council Tax

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  on what date his Department first informed Surrey Police that it intended to use a 2008-09 notional budget requirement and a 2008-09 notional Band D council tax rate in determining whether to cap Surrey Police Authority's precept;
	(2)  what information  (a) the Secretary of State and  (b) (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in his Department provided to Surrey Police in July 2008 on the notional council tax precept to be used when setting its 2009-10 budget.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Officials wrote to the authority on 26 June 2008 informing it that the Secretary of State had proposed a notional budget requirement of £189,622,000 for 2008-09. The authority subsequently exercised its right to challenge its proposed notional budget requirement.
	Officials then wrote to the authority on 11 September 2008 informing it that, having carefully considered its challenge, the Secretary of State had confirmed the notional budget requirement of £189,622,000 for 2008-09.
	Further correspondence from officials beginning on 24 October 2008 (in response to a query from Surrey police on 21 October) confirmed that, in the event that Ministers decided to cap in 2009-10 and included a council tax capping principle, such a principle would operate with reference to a notional level of council tax for 2008-09.

Unitary Councils: Costs

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 12 May 2009,  Official Report, column 730W, on unitary councils, how latest estimates for the restructuring costs for the new unitary councils break down between spending areas; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The transition costs of around £138 million were based on the councils' proposals for unitary structures in their areas, remodelled where appropriate by independent financial consultants to reflect risks in the proposals and the potential impact of those risks on the business cases. These costs were summarised in the Impact Assessments published before the proposals were debated and approved by the House.
	The stocktake visits that my officials undertook earlier this year confirmed that transition costs and savings were broadly in line with those in the proposals, and transition costs (at around £135 million) were likely to be slightly below the original estimated figure. We will continue to monitor progress in delivering these costs and savings.

Local Government Finance

Bob Neill: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 7 May 2009,  Official Report, column 391W, what data the Office of National Statistics' uses to make comparisons between spending levels of local authorities.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I have been asked to reply.
	Information from local authorities are recorded on annual revenue outturn (RO) and budget (RA) forms.

Domestic Violence

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many centres for victims of domestic violence have been opened in the last 12 months.

Michael Jabez Foster: The provision of services to victims of domestic violence is a local issue; local decision makers are best placed to assess local needs. The majority of services are delivered through local providers who are supported and funded by local bodies, such as local councils and health organisations. As such, the Government do not collect information centrally on the number of services available for victims of domestic violence.
	However, the Government do take the issue of domestic violence very seriously and since 1997 has taken significant steps to combat it. The Government have continued to provide funding to help lines to support a range of victims including the national 24 hour free phone help line (0808 2000 247); Men's Advice Line and Enquiries for male victims (0800 801 0327); Broken Rainbow for LGBT victims (08452 60 44 66); and RESPECT for perpetrators wishing to change their behaviour (0845 122 8609).
	In addition, the Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC) programme has continued to expand and the Government are committed to increasing the number of SDVCs to 128 by 2011. Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences are currently operational in over 200 areas, and will be rolled out nationally by 2011. Furthermore, in 2008-09 we provided over £6 million to support the roll-out of Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs) and Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs).

Government Equalities Office: Manpower

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many staff the Government Equalities Office has employed in each month since October 2007.

Michael Jabez Foster: The Government Equalities Office has employed the following number of staff since it was established in October 2007. A monthly breakdown is not available for the first year of GEO's operations. Since the implementation of GEO's own set of terms and conditions in October 2008 automated recording of staff numbers has been introduced and monthly data is available.
	
		
			   Number 
			 October 2007 62 
			 March 2008 70 
			 October 2008 99 
			 November 2008 102 
			 December 2008 107 
			 January 2009 104 
			 February 2009 104 
			 March 2009 105 
			 April 2009 106 
			 May 2009 112 
			 June 2009 105

Allied Health Professions: Manpower

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) community and  (b) primary care-based (i) physiotherapists and (ii) speech therapists there are in each primary care trust area.

Ann Keen: The number of physiotherapists and speech therapists in each primary care trust area is set out in a table which has been placed in the Library; however, this data cannot be further separated to show community and primary care based staff.

Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Government has paid to other EU member states under the European Health Insurance Card scheme in each of the last 10 years.

Gillian Merron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 26 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 228-30W.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence  (a) to issue its interim process guide for determining indicators for inclusion in the Quality and Outcomes Framework and  (b) to call for evidence from interested parties for indicators for potential inclusion in the Quality and Outcomes Framework from 2010-11; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its interim process guide for determining indicators for inclusion in the Quality and Outcomes Framework on 5 June. NICE intend to make a facility available on their website for submitting proposals for new indicators or changes to existing indicators in the summer.

Social Services: Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the formula by which the social care reform grant is disbursed.

Phil Hope: The Social Care Reform grant is allocated to a local authority according to its proportional share of the total adults' personal social services (PSS) relative needs formulae, with a minimum allocation of £10,000 for each local authority.
	Details of the allocation basis for all PSS grants are published in the 2008 Local Authority Social Services Letter, a copy of which has been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicabonsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Localauthoritysocialservicesletters/DH_091106
	The formulae for the adults' personal social services relative needs formulae are contained in Chapter 4 of the Local Government Finance Report 2008-09. This is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/0809/lgfr0809s/index.htm

Academies

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many academies have been established in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: 50 Academies have opened since June last year. 47 opened in September 2008 and a further three opened in January 2009.

Academies

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which Minister in his Department has lead responsibility for the academies programme; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: I am the new Minister responsible for Academies. I am delighted to be taking responsibility for Academies at this important point in the programme.
	Academies have been successful in raising standards in areas where they had previously been low and we expect to open the 200(th) Academy in the upcoming academic year. As part of the National Challenge programme we will open up to a further 100 in September 2010, well on the way to our target of 400.

Departmental Training

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what training courses have been attended by special advisers in his Department in the last 12 months; and at what cost.

Diana Johnson: Special Advisers receive training as appropriate to enable them to fulfil their duties and responsibilities as set out in the "Model Contract for Special Advisers".
	However, Special Advisers in this Department have not attended any training courses in the last 12 months.

Schools: Standards

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what results each local authority-supported school in  (a) Newcastle,  (b) North Tyneside constituency and  (c) Northumberland achieved against each of the new criteria included in the National Challenge in each of the last five years for which figures are available; what percentage of children at each school has been eligible for free school meals in each such year; and where each school ranked on such criteria among all local authority-supported schools in England in each such year.

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what results each local authority-supported school in  (a) Merseyside and  (b) Crosby constituency achieved against the National Challenge criteria in each of the last five years for which figures are available; what percentage of children at each such school was eligible for free school meals in each such year; and where each such school ranked on these criteria among all local authority-supported schools in England in each such year.

Diana Johnson: The current National Challenge set to each maintained mainstream schools is for more than 30 per cent. of their Key Stage 4 cohort to achieve five or more GCSEs at A*-C or the equivalent including the subjects of English and mathematics.
	At school level, this indicator is only available for 2006 and onwards while data on the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is available for all of the requested years.
	The available data for each of the requested schools have been placed in the House Libraries and those schools in the requested constituencies are compiled as follows.
	
		
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			  Institution name  %  of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals  National rank  %  of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals  National rank  %  of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals  National rank  %  of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals  National rank  %  of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals  National rank 
			  North Tyneside   
			 George Stephenson Community High School 14.1 1,226 11.7 1,438 11.8 1,381 11.0 1,408 7.2 1,966 
			 Churchill Community College 28.3 499 25.0 604 20.8 748 21.7 665 18.2 882 
			 Longbenton Community College 16.7 1,048 15.6 1,105 14.1 1,152 14.8 1,081 12.8 1,254 
			 Seaton Burn College, A Specialist Business and Enterprise School 15.7 1,114 14.6 1,169 13.4 1,208 12.4 1,262 12.9 1,248 
			
			  Crosby   
			 Formby High School 8.9 1,806 8.3 1,884 8.5 1,789 7.1 1,942 7.0 2,020 
			 Chesterfield High School 15.5 1,135 14.1 1,218 16.5 994 14.7 1,087 16.1 1,020 
			 Range High School 1.7 2,979 1.5 3,007 1.6 2,960 1.5 2,943 1.8 2,962 
			 Sacred Heart Catholic College 7.4 2,017 6.5 2,155 7.9 1,859 6.1 2,115 5.8 2,233 
			 St. Michael's Church of England High School (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 23.0 628 21.0 701 22.2 661 
			 (1) Schools that were not open in given years.  Note: Rankings among all maintained mainstream schools in England are given. 
		
	
	
		
			   2006  2007  2008 
			  Institution name  % of pupils achieving Level 2 threshold including English and mathematics  National rank  % of pupils achieving Level 2 threshold including English and mathematics  National rank  % of pupils achieving Level 2 threshold including English and mathematics  National rank 
			  North Tyneside   
			 George Stephenson Community High School 35 1,926 43 1,599 37 2,125 
			 Churchill Community College 25 2,530 27 2,522 31 2,503 
			 Longbenton Community College 51 1,011 50 1,175 49 1,385 
			 Seaton Burn College, A Specialist Business and Enterprise School 39 1,687 38 1,891 35 2,241 
			
			  Crosby   
			 Formby High School 78 221 75 254 81 225 
			 Chesterfield High School 51 1,011 45 1,483 45 1,616 
			 Range High School 74 248 74 271 82 220 
			 Sacred Heart Catholic College 52 964 57 799 80 233 
			 St. Michael's Church of England High School 29 2,288 24 2,682 42 1,810 
			  Note: Rankings among all maintained mainstream schools in England are given.

Legislation: Electronic Publishing

Tom Watson: To ask the Leader of the House what recent discussions she has had with representatives of mySociety on methods of electronic publication of bills by the House; and if she will make a statement.

Barbara Keeley: My predecessor, the hon. Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant), had various discussions and correspondence with mySociety on this issue.

Banks: Closures

David Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many bank branches have been closed in the last six months by banks in which the Government has purchased a shareholding in the last two years.

Kitty Ussher: The Government's shareholdings in the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Banking Group (Lloyds) are managed by UK Financial Investments Ltd. (UKFI), and for Northern Rock and Bradford and Bingley they are currently managed by the Treasury. All shareholdings in these banks are managed on a commercial basis. The closure of branches is an operational decision for the board of each bank.
	It is a matter for each bank to disclose this information.

Cheltenham and Gloucester

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions Lloyds TSB held with UK Financial Investments Ltd on its plans to close high street branches of Cheltenham and Gloucester; and what reports he received from his Department's representative on the Board of Lloyds TSB on the matter.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 12 June 2009
	UK Financial Investments Limited (UKFI) has been set up to manage the Government's investments in financial institutions as an active and engaged shareholder, operating on a commercial basis and at arms length from Government. This includes monitoring performance through maintaining an active and regular dialogue with investee companies' board to satisfy UKFI that the boards are operating effectively, and that companies' strategies protect and enhance shareholder value.
	The framework document between HM Treasury and UKFI sets a requirement that UKFI will not intervene in the day-to-day management decisions of investee companies, with the companies retaining their own independent boards, which will manage the banks and determine their strategy. Closing branches is an operational decision for the Board of Lloyds Banking Group (Lloyds).
	As part of the recapitalisation scheme announced on 8 October last year, the Lloyds has announced two new independent non-executive directors on 2 February. The purpose behind their appointment is to strengthen the board of the bank and to provide independent oversight in respect of governance and other matters in the interests of all the shareholders of the bank. They are not representatives of the Government.

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) staff and  (b) Ministerial away days have been organised by his Department in each of the last five years; and what the cost of such events was in each year.

Kitty Ussher: For details of the cost of away days prior to 2007-08, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 October 2007,  Official Report, column 220W, to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond).
	Disaggregated information on the number of away days held by  (a) staff and  (b) Ministers is not held centrally and could not be provided within the disproportionate costs threshold.
	The following table shows total recorded spending on away days in 2007-08, the latest year for which audited figures are available.
	
		
			  2007-08 Treasury away days 
			   £000 
			 Core treasury 211 
			 Group shared services(1) 68 
			 Total 279 
			 (1) HM Treasury, OGC and DMO established a Group Shared Services (GSS) function in 2007-08, including former OGC teams working from locations outside London.

Hillsborough Disaster

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions his Department has had with the Home Department on the release of files and documents held by his Department relating to the Hillsborough disaster.

Michael Wills: My right hon. Friend, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Jack Straw) has discussed this important issue with my hon. Friends, the Home Secretary and the Culture Secretary, with a view to ensuring that relevant information is appropriately released.
	This is a sensitive matter. We need to handle it carefully and with consideration, particularly for the families closely connected to the tragic events at Hillsborough.

Freedom Act of Information Act 2000

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress he has made in his review of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Michael Wills: In the Prime Minister's statement on Constitutional Renewal on 10 June, he emphasised our plans to look at broadening the application of the Freedom of information Act and reducing the time taken to release official documents.
	We are considering carefully the responses to the public consultation on extending the Act through a section 5 order. This could include within the scope of the Act bodies performing functions of a public nature and contractors providing services that are functions of public authorities. We will publish our response to the section 5 consultation shortly.
	In his statement, the Prime Minister also announced the reduction in the 30-year rule to 20 years. Our detailed response to the 30-year rule review will be published by the summer.

Ashwell Prison

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to publish the report of the investigation into the riot at HM Prison Ashwell in April 2009.

Maria Eagle: As my right hon. Friend the former Minister for Prisons (Mr. Hanson) said in his written ministerial statement to the House on 20 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 2-3WS, we will make the findings of the investigation and our conclusions on it available to the House in due course.

Young Offenders: Restraint Techniques

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions  (a) nose, rib and thumb distraction and  (b) pain compliant techniques were used on those of each (i) sex, (ii) age group and (iii) ethnic group (A) with and (B) without a disability in each institution in the juvenile secure estate in each month between January 2007 and the most recent month for which figures are available. [Official Report, 9 September 2009, Vol. 496, c. 22MC.]

Maria Eagle: The following tables provide data supplied by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) which relate to secure training centres. Data for young offender institutions and secure children's homes are not collected centrally and cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.
	YJB's code of practice makes it very clear that restraint is not to be used except as a last resort, when other approaches have not succeeded or would not be appropriate.
	The independent Review of Restraint in Juvenile Secure Settings, which was published together with the Government's response on 15 December 2008, made important recommendations about improving practice and making sure restraint is used as sparingly as possible. The Government and the Youth Justice Board are working together to implement those recommendations.
	Secure training centres currently use an approved system of restraint known as Physical Control in Care (PCC), which includes the rib and thumb distraction techniques. It formerly also included the nose distraction technique: use of this was discontinued in November 2007 in the light of some concerns about its suitability voiced by a panel of medical experts commissioned to review the PCC techniques.
	The data provided show the use of nose, rib and thumb distraction techniques in secure training centres during the period January 2007 to March 2009. Information on the age, sex and ethnic origin of the young person restrained has been collected centrally by the YJB since April 2008. Data relating to disability are not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Table A analyses the data by type of distraction technique; Table B by sex; Table C by age; and Table D by ethnic group.
	
		
			  Table A: Use of distraction techniques in secure training centr es by technique used,  January 2007 to March 2009 
			  Nose distraction 
			   2007  2008 
			   Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar 
			 STC total 0 2 0 0 0 1 6 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hassockfield 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Medway 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Oakhill 0 2 0 0 0 1 6 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Rainsbrook 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0